Cuff folder mechanism

ABSTRACT

A FOLDING MECHANISM OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED AND TRAVELLING IN TIMED RELATION WITH A STRIPPING UNIT CAPABLE BOTH OF STRIPPING A GLOVE FROM A CASTING MOLD AND RETAINING THE SAME BY GRIPPING MEANS MOUNTED BY THE STRIPPING UNIT TO GRIP THE OPEN WRIST END OF THE GLOVE. THE FOLDING MECHANISM INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING PARALLEL MANDRELS RELATIVELY MOVABLE TO VARYING THEIR SPACED RELATION AND MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE GRIPPING MEANS TO RECEIVE THE GLOVE FROM THE LATTER AND AT THE SAME TIME WITH CONTINUED MOVEMENT TO FOLD THE OPEN END ABOUT THE MANDREL AS THE GLOVE IS BEING RELEASED.

March 16, 1971 RGDRlGUEs EI'AL 3,570,053

CUFF FOLDER MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 25; 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 INvENTORsANT/MN) F Rook/c055 Haw/Mo A. w/z k/Alsaxv March 16, 1971 llSheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1968 a ww m March 16,1971 A. F. RODRIGUESETM 3,570,953

CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23, 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet S March 16,1911 A F, M ES ETAL 3,510,053

.CUF'F FOLDER MECHANISM M 5 t 0! v 8 T e m v S N t l w an h f s WK 1 API.

A. F. RODRIGUES ET AL 3,570,053

March 16, 1971 CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 23,1968 BY 9M, 10 W gl d March 16', 1971 A. F. RODRIGUES ETAL CUFF FOLDERMECHANISM Filed Sept. 23. 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS. Ammo/w EPOOP/6M5 2/67/4190 A. w/z mvso/v March 16,- 1971 A. F. RODRIGUES f CUFFFOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 23, 1968 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 11 Sheets-Sheet9 Mann 1971 Q A. F. RODRIGUES EFAL CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2:.1968 March 16, 1971 noDRlGUES ETAL 3,570,053

CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 25, 1968 Mgl'dl 16,1971 A RQDRIGUES ETAL 3,570,053

I CUFF FOLDER MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Se t! 23. 1968 UnitedStates Patent Ofice US. Cl. 18-2 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afolding mechanism operatively associated and travelling in timedrelation with a stripping unit capable both of stripping a glove from acasting mold and retaining the same by gripping means mounted by thestripping unit to grip the open wrist end of the glove. The foldingmechanism including a pair of upstanding parallel mandrels relativelymovable to varying their spaced relation and movable in a directiontoward the gripping means to receive the glove from the latter and atthe same time with continued movement to fold the open end about themandrel as the glove is being released.

The present invention relates to a folding mechanism and particularly toa mechanism which is included as a terminal part of an apparatus capableof initially molding a product, such as a glove, by for example, dippingtechniques and thereafter by a stripping unit stripping the molded,cured product from the form upon which it is cast. In this connection,the folding mechanism operations in conjunction with the stripping unitand at the wrist portion of the glove to fold the wrist to create a cuffin the same so that the glove is in condition for in spection andpackaging.

While the prior art contains structures capable of stripping a moldedproduct from a form upon which it is cast, the prior art is silent as toa mechanism capable of folding the wrist portion of a glove thereby toform a cufl". Heretofore, cuff formation has been accomplished manually.

Thus, from bulk storage, the glove was picked up and gripped by thebead, generally previously formed at the open hand receiving end, and apartial inversion of the wrist portion was accomplished thereby forminga cuff with the bead thereafter positioned substantially at the middleof the thumb extension.

As can be clearly appreciated, manually handling does not lend itself toa high production output which may be accomplished in an automatedoperation. Further, with manual handling there cannot be the trueconsistency in the manner of the fold and length of cuff as is obtainedby a mechanical operation. This necessarily causes problems inpackaging.

Obviously, there are many additional advantages of a mechanizedoperation rather than a manual operation and these may be readilyapparent.

Thus, it is a principal object of the present invention, in a systemincluding a dipping, spraying or equivalentoperation and a strippingunit to strip the molded and cured product from a form, to provide amolding mechanism which functions in a manner cooperate, during travel,with the stripping unit to fold the Wrist portion of the glove therebycreating a cuff.

Other objects and advantages achieved by the mechanism of the presentinvention which act in concert with a stripping unit will readily cometo mind as the following description representative of a preferredembodiment of the invention is developed.

Thus, the invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus wherein aglove which is cast upon and stripped 3,570,053 Patented Mar. 16, 1971from a mold may be folded by an interaction of the strip ping unit andfolding mechanism to provide a cuff in the glove and release the cuffedglove for inspection and packaging. In this connection, the apparatus isbroadly directed to the production of relatively thin molded articles ona mold from a dispersion, such as a plastisol. The mold is disposed uponand travels with an endless conveyor chain. A stripping unit, mountedupon and travelling with a sec ond endless conveyor, is provided foreach mold and receives the same to strip the article from the mold. Afolding mechanism, mounted upon and travelling with a third endlessconveyor, is provided and travels in timed relation with each strippingunit whereby means on the mechanism cooperates with the stripping unitto receive and fold the article carried thereby.

The accompanying drawings form a part of the present invention. By thesedrawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the discharge end ofa glove stripper mechanism and a cuff-folding mechanism associatedtherewith;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section as seen along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a stripping unit with certain portionsshown in section to illustrate the details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a strippingunit showing a mold and a molded article engaged by the strippingelements;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross-section of a strippingelement as seen along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, similar to FIG. 5, is an enlarged fragmentary view incross-section of a stripping element showing the parts at a stage priorto the stripping operation;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stripping unit with a moldand the molded article engaged therewith and showing the strippingelements in a stage of stripping following that stage as seen in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross-section of a strippingelement as seen along the line 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mold in a position withrespect to the stripping unit further along in the stripping sequence toshow the molded article having been partially stripped from the mold;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of one of a cuff-folder head;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view in cross-section of a cuff-folder headpartially broken away for clarity, as seen along the line 1111 in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a plurality of cuff-folder heads showing,sequentially, different positions of the folding mandrels during thetime they are associated with the stripper mechanism;

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, each showing two views, are schematic illustrationsof the different positions undergone by the folding mandrels atdifferent locations of travel along the endless track and theirengagement with the glove in the stripping head;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the mechanism with the upper halfopened upwardly and the lower half opened downwardly, certain structurenot shown for the sake of of clarity, whereby the relationship of thecuff-folding mandrels and the stripping head at approximately the timeof release of the glove from the stripper head onto the cuff-foldingmandrels is apparent;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of one cufffolder head inmotion around the sprockets at the righthand end of the cuff-foldermechanism as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the left side of the cuff-folding headas seen in FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 19 and 20 are, respectively, a top plan view 3 and an elevationalview of the take-up mechanism for the conveyor chains of thecuff-folding heads.

The several drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, illustrate an apparatusadapted for use in a process directed to the manufacture of a moldedproduct. In this connection, the product may be molded on a form, forexample, by dipping, spraying or by the application of any well-knowntechnique of applying a rubber latex or a plastisol, for example, to aform, to be thereafter stripped from the form after a curing operationand, finally, folded by the apparatus embodying the present invention.Thus, the molded article is subject to final processing and packagingfor distribution.

The preferred form of the invention, as illustrated in the severalfigures, indicates the product to be a glove but it should be apparentthat other products may be processed by this apparatus. Thus, thepresent showing is for the purpose of illustration and is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention except as limited by the appendedclaims.

Since the manner by which an ambidextrous glove mold is coated to form,after curing and stripping, an ambidextrous glove is well known in theart and, in and of itself, forms no part of the present invention, FIG.1 is directed to the operation of the apparatus following the formationof the glove and considers the operation of the apparatus once there isa coincidence of one of a plurality of stripping units and one of aplurality of travelling coated glove forms. Thus, the drawings considerboth the stripping of a glove from a form and the folding of the sameonce stripped.

The apparatus is supported by a frame including a plurality of verticalsupport members and a plurality of horizontal support members 12 carriedby the former to provide a structurally stable frame unit for theapparatus to be described. The members may be rigidly connected togetherin any manner as by welding or the equivalent. As shown in FIG. 2, themembers are bolted together.

An endless track 14 in the form of an I-beam is carried by and beneathone horizontal member 12 (FIG. 2). The track, in turn, supports anendless linked conveyor chain 16 in a manner (not shown) and a pluralityof ambidextrous glove forms 18 downwardly depend therefrom. Each of theforms is rigidly or otherwise connected for turning motion to an element20 that is mounted between its ends to a chain link and is supported atthe top by a double roller mounting 22. The roller mounted element ismovable along the track channels sequentially to and through a dippingstation, a station whereat the layer of uncured material carried by theform is cured and finally to a station where the finished glove article24 is stripped from the form. The stripping operation is accomplished bythe stripping unit as both form and unit move in the direction of thearrows 26.

The frame also supports a stripper conveyor including an endless seriesof stripper members or elements 28, which are carried by an endlessconveyor chain 30, trained about a pair of spaced sprockets 32 rotatingin the direction of the arrow. The sprockets are mounted by a shaft 34which is journalled for rotary motion in a pair of end supportingbearing members 36 carried by one horizontal frame member 12. A pair ofspaced collars 38, keyed to the shaft, prevent sliding movement of thesprockets therein and maintain the same in fixed relation with regard tothe chain 30. Although not shown, the chain is also trained about asecond sprocket, which may be an idler sprocket. The drive means forsprocket 32 is not shown but it is to be pointed out that the chain 30is driven in synchronism with the mold carrier conveyor chain 16. Inthis way and at a point of incidence, there will be one stripping unit28 for each mold or form 18 with each travelling together thereafteralong the coinciding portions along their path of travel so that theglove is stripped from the form 18.

Each stripping member or element 28 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 9comprise a cast frame 40 having a top wall 42 with a central opening 44of circular outline. A bottom casting 46 also carries a circular centralopening 48 which is in alignment with the opening 44 in the upper wall42. The terms top and bottom are used in the sense of the travel of thestripping members along the upper stretch of their travel when they areactive in the stripping operation.

Each stripping member is mounted by its cast frame 40 on the chainconveyor 30 by means of a threaded block-type link (not shown) and apair of cap screw elements 50. One of the parallel chains forming theconveyor chain 30 is shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of rollers 52journalled for rotation are carried in the area of the corners of thestripping member and adjacent the conveyor chains 28. The rollers aid insupporting the stripping members and are capable of rolling movementwithin a channel in opposed track elements 54. As shown, each track issupported by the frame members 10 and 12.

The top wall 42 of each stripping member is provided with four bosses 56which are disposed in guadrature about the opening 44. Vertical shafts58, by means of bearings (not shown), are rotatably carried in the upperboss 56. The shafts are also carried by a plurality of bosses 60 in thebottom casting 46. Bearings (not shown) are similarly provided and thebosses are similarly symmetrically disposed about the opening 48. Eachof the vertical shafts 58 has pivotally mounted thereon intermediate theupper and lower bosses a hollow hub 62 of a stripping arm 64. Asindicated in the figures, the stripping arms 64 are mounted inquadrature about the openings 44 and 48 and are vertically disposed inrelation to one another. Additionally, each of the stripping arms isurged in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 so that all of thearms tend to move inwardly with respect to the axis of Openings 4448 anda form 18 positioned therein. In this connection, a spring member 66 isconnected to an ear 68 of the hub 62.

Each of the stripping arms 64 has means at its free end for engagementwith the form and with the article thereon to perform both gripping andcontrol operations in connection with the stripping operation. Theseoperations include the forming of an enlarged roll (FIG. 6) at the openend of the article, and the unrolling of this roll (FIG. 5) intoengagement with two cooperating elements which thereafter act as a pairof gripping menas to grip the open end of the article during itsmovement away from (FIG. 8) and subsequent stripping from the mold. Inthis connection, each of the stripping arms 64 carries, Within a hollowbody, a shaft 70 which is journalled for movement around itslongitudinal axis. Each shaft, in turn, carries a rotary brush 72. Thebrush acts primarily, as an article moving means as hereinbeforediscussed. The brush 72 is embraced on its inner face by a channelshaped cooperating element in the form of a spade 74- that functions togrip the article or bead of the glove 24 during the stripping operationand unitl its release from the article, during the folding operation.The spade has one flange 74a secured to the end of the arm 64 and asecond flange 74b embracing the opposite end of the brush 72. As seen inFIG. 6, the middle lower end of the spade is tapered 740 to provide anentry or portion for the gripping element to enter between the mold andthe plastic article formed thereon in a manner later described. Althoughnot shown on the drawings, means are provided on the frame to open thefour stripper arms to an inactive position to receive a form with aglove thereon as the forms begin an ascending portion of their travel(not shown). Thus, the inactive positioning of the stripping arms andthe end brushes permits the passage of a glove mold down therethrough asthe stripping head is being elevated toward the mold (not shown). Whenthe stripping head is properly oriented and the glove form is receivedby the same, the spades 74 and the brush 72 are moved into activeposition to engage a mold as seen in FIG. 3. Thereafter the brushes aremoved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. This rotationoccurs while the particular mold and glove are moving up an inclinedportion (not shown) of the supporting track 14 so that they are movingupwardly with respect to the stripping head. This action is effective tocause a rolling of a cuff portion of the glove, for example, (or thebead portion of the open mouth of a bag), downwardly over itself as seenin FIG. 6. Reversal of the direction of the rotation of the brush shaft70 and consequently, the brush 72 so that the end of the cuff of theglove (or the end of the mouth of the bag) is moved upwardly between thespade and its accompanying brush to provide a secure grip of the topopen end of the glove or bag as seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5 isaccomplished by an interengagement of sprocket 186a and chain 190 to bedescribed in more detail below. This is the gripping operation asperformed by the stripping member 28.

Immediately following this operation, the stripping arms 64 and thegripping elements move outwardly with respect to the mold. The upper endof the glove being gripped will be stretched out with respect to themold in four places as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. At this point, thestripping member 28 begins to move relative to the form, due to variousinclines in the conveyor paths, so that the glove will start to beturned inside out as illustrated in FIG. 9. The relative movementcontinues as is seen in FIG. 1 to a position where the mold has beencompletely removed from the opening in the stripping member and theglove is completely stripped from the form, to travel with the strippingunit which is conveyed to a point of incidence with the folder mechanismheads, as will be discussed.

For a further and more detailed description of the gripping andstripping operation as performed by the stripping head, the manner bywhich the stripping head is mounted on the conveyor chain 30 and boththe manner and structure allowing the stripping members to be moved inthe endless path and into timed relation to the glove form carrying themolded article, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,576.

A folder conveyor 76 is similarly carried by the frame in a positionimmediately below the stripper conveyor which carries the individualstripper members 28. The folder conveyor, best seen in FIG. 1, includesa plurality of folder members or head 78 which are mounted for movementaround an endless track 80. The folder heads and the manner by whichthey are both supported and driven by the conveyor along the track 80 isbest seen in FIGS. 10, 16 and 17.

The folder members or heads 78 are mounted by a pair of parallel spacedendless chains 82 each of which are trained around a pair of axiallyspaced sprocket wheels 84 and 86. The former pair acts as an idlersprocket and the latter pair acts as a driving sprocket. All sprocketsare supported by the frame and are journalled for rotation. As indicatedin FIG. 2 the axially spaced wheels 86 are keyed to a shaft 88 by thecollars 90 mounted on opposed sides thereof. The shaft 88 carries at oneend a sprocket 92 which is similarly keyed to the shaft and is driven bymeans (not shown) in synchronism with the stripper conveyor 30 so thatthe glove article may be both folded and removed from the strippermember 28 as the member and head 78 following the coinciding portions oftheir paths of travel, as seen in FIG. 1.

Referring specifically to FIG. 10, the folder head 78 is illustrated asbeing of rectangular outline, having a top wall 94 and four dependingside walls 96. The walls adjacent the forward and trailing walls of thefolder head as determined by the directional arrows 100 each contain aboss 102. The bosses in addition to a grooved plate 104 that is bolted,as at 106 (FIG. 11) to the head below the top wall support a shaft 108which passes through the folder head and which, as hereinafterdiscussed, provides a mount for the head on the parallel spaced conveyorchains 82. Bolts 106 may be received by threaded bosses (not shown) castas an integral part of the top wall 94 or otherwise carried by the same.

Link elements 110 are provided at predetermined spaced locations alongthe conveyor length and join adjacent sections of the chain 82 atpositions, respectively, where the folder heads are mounted. The linksare formed with a central cylindrical opening to receive the shaft 108therethrough and mount the folder head 78. A plurality of collars 112are mounted on and keyed to the shaft 108 on opposed sides of the chain82. The collars prevent substantially all sidewise movement of thefolder head once mounted.

The shaft 108 is of extended length and passes beyond the respectivecollars toward the opposed track 80 and the walls 114 upon which thetracks are immovably mounted. Each wall is carried by the vertical framemembers 10. An arm 116 is carried at each end of the shaft 108. Each armhas a lapped end upon which a roller 118 is journalled for rotation. Asis apparent from FIG. 16 the roller co-acts with the track 80 defined bythe upper and lower track elements 120 and 122 as the head moves or isconveyed by the conveyor and chain 82. The other end of arm 116 isrounded and bifurcated as at 124. A pair of cylindrical collars 126 anda pair of Washers 128 are mounted on opposed sides of the arm to receivea bolt 13 through a central opening, all of the members being rigidlysecured by a nut 132 thereby preventing any relative rotational movementof the arm 116 and the folding head 78. As seen in FIG. 1 the arm andhead, irrespective of the position of the head during its movementwithin the endless path, are relatively immovable.

Each folder head of the total plurality of heads is caused to movearound the endless path due to its mounting on the conveyor chain 82which is being driven by the sprocket wheel 86 in a timed relationshipto the movement of the stripper members 28 on conveyor chain 30. Thistimed driving relationship functions to present a folding head and astripper member at a predetermined location and at a predetermined timeduring the functioning of the apparatus thereby to allow the foldingmeans on the folder head to introduce itself within the opening 4448 inthe stripper to interact, as to be discussed, With the spade 74 andbrush 72, holding the ribbed end of the glove 24, to remove and fold thesame. In this operation and as seen in FIG. 1,- the head and the memberundergo a relative change in physical orientation so that the foldingoperation may take place. In this connection, the folder heads aremoved, once in coincidence with the stripper member, toward and thenaway from the latter once the glove has been folded and released by thespade 74 and the brush 72.

The conveyor chain 82 which is trained around the sprockets 84 and 86,depending upon the take-up which will be discussed hereinafter,generally follows a path which is tangent to the outer peripheralsurface of each sprocket. Accordingly, the folder heads which aremechanically mounted to the conveyor chain will normally follow the samepath undergoing no relative movement toward and away from the strippermember 28 as discussed and as is shown in FIG. 1.

As has been previously discussed, each folder head carries at the endofthe arm 116 a roller 118 which travels within the track 80 which isdesigned to cause the necessary movement of the folder head in relationto the stripper member. To accomplish the folding operation it isnecessary that the folding means carried by the head enter the strippermember through the opening 44- 48. It is further necessary that thisentry be in a substantially vertical direction if a symmetrical cuff isto be formed. Withdrawal of the folding structure from within theconfines of the stripper member need not be in this vertical directionsince upon completion of the folding operation the glove will have beenreleased by the brush 72 and the spade 74 which heretofore gripped theglove when being stripped from the form 18.

As has been indicated, the profile of track is such that the head willundergo a relative repositioning during travel with the member 28.However, upon repositioning the head will not be level. Therefore, apair of members 134 are supported by the frame and oriented thereby tobe parallel to the sprockets 84 and 86. Each member is positionedbetween the collar 112 and the bifurcated end of arm 116. The membersare elongated plates extending between substantially the sprocket axesand provides an upper contoured profile which is substanitally similarto the profile of track 80. This is most apparent from FIG. 1.

A pair of rollers 136 are journalled for rotational movement about theshaft 108 as well as being positioned on the same thereby to be inrolling contact with the upper surface of the member 134 throughout itstotal length. Thus, the head front end and consequently the mountingchain 82 will be raised from the normal path to that path determined bythe track 80 and member 134 so that as the folder head moves bothforwardly and upwardly toward the stripper member 28 the head ismaintained in the necessary over-all horizontal position relative to thefloor.

To prevent the conveyor chain 82 from releasing from t the sprocketwheel 86 the upwardly directed incline 138 formed in the member 134begins its descent prior to reaching the plane perpendicular to the axisof the sprocket wheel shaft 88 so that the conveyor chain returns to thenormally tangent position and remains entrained upon the sprocket teeth.

The operation of the folding mechanism best seen in FIGS. 10, 12 and 16,is now to be described.

The folding mechanism generally includes a pair of upstanding, parallelspaced and relatively movable mandrels 140 and 142. The upstandingmandrels 140 and 142 are rigidly connected at their lower ends to arms144 and 146. The arms are supported by a pair of bosses 148 and 150 and,respectively, pivot about a pair of shafts 152 and 154. The shafts aresupported by the upper wall in head 78. As indicated, the ends of thearms opposite the mandrel are bifurcated and receive, through atransverse opening, a nut and bolt 156158 to rigidly connect the arm tothe respective shaft. An annular cut-out in the shaft receives a clip160.

The shafts 152 and 154 are positioned thereby to be parallel to theupstanding mandrels 140 and 142. Second arms 162 and 164 are, in asimilar manner, connected to the other end of the shafts 152 and 154.The latter arms are biased in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 10)

against a pair of stops 166 and 168 by the springs 170 and 172 connectedbetween the respective arms and the side walls 96 of the folder head 78.

Further depending shafts 174 and 176 are integrally or otherwise rigidlyconnected to the arms 162 and 164 and at their opposite ends carry apair of rollers 178 and l 180 received for rotation and mounted by a nut182 received on a threaded end of the shafts 174 and 176.

The rollers 178 and 180, referring specifically to FIGS. 1216, act ascam followers and determine, due to their physical positioning along thecam member 184, the positioning with respect to one another of themandrels 140 and 142. Thus, the mandrels which are normally widelyspaced from one another move relatively to one another as the head 78moves in the direction of arrow 100 and the rollers 178 and 180 followthe surface of cam 184 as travel occurs from left to right in FIG. 12.As is apparent, the normally widely spaced mandrels are caused to movecloser to one another as the head arrives at a point of incidence withthe stripper member. As will be discussed, it is necessary that themandrels be in a closer orientation upon initial coaction with the glovemore widely spread by the brush 72 and spade 74 as in FIG. 9. In thismanner, a folding operation may occur and upon subsequent spreading ofthe mandrels the latter will carry the glove from the member 28.

Operation of the folding mechanism and its intercooperation with thestripping member 28 may be seen in FIGS. 13-16.

After the glove 24 has been stripped from the form 18 and while beinggripped at four space locations by a brush 72 and spade 74 mounted byarms 64 thereby to present a Widely opened wrist at the bead, it isconveyed to a position of initial coincidence with the folding mechanism78 and mandrels 140 and 142. As previously, indicated, the conveyors 30and 82 carrying, respectively, the stripper member 28 and the foldingmechanism 78 are driven in timed relation thereby, following thisinitial point of incidence, to travel at the same rate along the commonpath of FIG. 13.

As has been generally discussed, the mandrels 140 and 142 are parallelspaced and relatively movable toward one another, from their normalorientation, and thereafter away from one another, returning to thisorientation. Motion is imparted to the mandrels as the roller followers178 and 180 ride along the sides of cam 184.

As has been generally discussed and as is apparent from the FIGS. 5, 6and 8 representations, the arms 64 which are biased in a clockwisedirection (FIG. 3), are pivotable about their supporting shafts 58 in acounter direction. Additionally, the brushes 72, carried by shafts 70,are capable of movement in both other directions thereby to roll a wristbead and unroll the same so that the head is gripped between the brushand spade 74 as the arms move to the FIG. 7 position and stripping isaccomplished. Thus, it is necessary that the arms 64 be capable ofpivotal movement about their supporting shafts 58 and the brushes 72 bemovable about their supporting shafts 70.

Structure to accomplish the latter motion is only generally shown. Inthis connection, each of the shafts 58 carry at their bottom ends asprocket 186 (FIGS. 2 and 16), all of which are connected by a chain 188thereby to provide a common drive for each shaft 58 in an oscillatablefashion, as is necessary to roll a wrist bead. By a plurality of bevelpinions (not shown) the shaft 58 is coupled to the shaft 70. Preferably,two of the sprockets 186a, one on each side, are driving sprockets andare oriented in a manner thereby to engage with short lengths of a fixedchain 190, carried at predetermined locations, on opposed sides of themember 28 and supported by the frame. Thus, for most travel the brushesundergo no motion but undergo motion in one direction or the otherdepending upon which drive sprocket engages the chain length.

Reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,304,576 for a more completediscussion of the aforementioned operation as well as the operationhereinafter discussed regarding the pivotal movement of the arms 64 fromthe FIG. 3 to the FIG. 7 position. Although not shown in great detaileach shaft 58 carries a plate 192 of generally triangular configuration.The plate, in turn, carries an extending arm and an end depending roller(both not shown) mouted for engagement with a cam (not shown) supportedon the frame. Each plate, by links 194, is connected together so thatall arms 64 pivot toward and away from the form 18 in unison. Thus, asthe roller travels along the cam profile the plate 192 directlyconnected to the roller and consequently all plates and arms willundergo a degree of pivotal movement. As is apparent, the cams arepredeterminedly oriented to provide the required movement.

With this background and referring now to FIGS. 13- 15 the member 28 andhead 78 are seen, in timed relation, to approach a point of coincidenceof the same which is generally at the at the left extremity of cam 184.The mandrels, at this point, begin movement toward one another from afully spaced position. The glove bead at the wrist portion is positivelygripped by and between the brush 72 and spade 74 so that the glove willbe turned about the upwardly directed spade edge 74c with the fingersfalling toward the conveyor 76 and track 80.

Normally, the mandrels are spaced a distance approaching maximum. Thespacing is substantially the same as is the spacing (FIG. 8) of one pairof diametrically opposite brushes 72 and spaced 74. At the beginning ofmovement toward one another, due to the action obtained by followers 178and 180 interacting with cam 184, the glove fingers (FIG. 13) willreside between the mandrels. As both the member 28 and the head 78 movefrom the position of FIG. 13 to the FIG. 14 position thereby to approachthe incline 138, the mandrels are moved together by the cam followers178 and 180, as discussed. Movement of the mandrels, toward one another,continues until the raised pads 181 and 183 in the form of plastic ringsare in abutting relation. In this position approximately the wristportion of the glove will be gripped by the mandrel rings, and the glovebead will continue to be gripped by the spade '74 and its interactionwith the brush 72. This is the interpositioning of the various grippingstructures as the folding head travels along the horizontal uppersurface of member 134 before the mandrels, due to the incline 138, enterthe opening 44-48 in the stripper member 28.

The abutting mandrel orientation is maintained as the head 78 followsthe incline 138 and track 80 thereby caus ing relative movement betweenthe head and member 28. With such movement and with the bead end of theglove spread and positively gripped, a cuff is formed as is apparentfrom FIG. 16. The length of incline, with the conveyor 30 following asubstantially horizontal path, determines the length of the. culf formedin each glove.

When the mandrels have been raised to the maximum extent as determinedby the length of the incline 138 and the cuff is fully formed, the beadof glove 18 is released from the spade and brush upon a rotation of thelatter as discussed. Release of the glove bead from the spade and brushcombination is accompanied by movement of the mandrels thereupon returnto the normal spacing so as to hold the cuffed glove in a somewhat tautcondition therebetween. Again, mandrel movement is obtained due to thefollowers 178 and 180 interacting with cam 184 and being spring loadedmove toward maximum separation (FIG. 17) as the followers leave the camtrack in FIG. 16. As desired, the glove may automatically release fromthe mandrels by moving the same together during passage along the bottomconveyor run or may be manually withdrawn from the mandrels at 196 asthe same begin their movement caused by cam 184 (see FIG. 51).

FIGS. 19 and 20 are descriptive of a method by which the degree oftension felt by the conveyor chains 82 trained on sprockets 84 and 86may be adjusted to prevent the rollers 118 from becoming jammed in thetrack 80 and to maintain the head 78 in a horizontal orientation, asdiscussed. Generally, the degree of tension is adjusted by moving theidler sprocket 84 carried by axle 198 relative and longitudinal to thedrive sprocket 86.

As is shown the folder conveyor 7'6 is supported on the floor 200 by apair of spaced upstanding frame members 202 and 204 in a manner capableof raising and lowering the conveyor in relation to the stripperconveyor and to the floor. =Fixed mounted by the upstanding framemembers is a pair of chanel members 206 which are additionally supportedby the members 208 and 210. As in FIG. 20, each channel is provided withan opening within the closed end to allow free longitudinal movement ofa threaded rod 212.

A cariage 214 is provided with a plurality of rollers 216 thereby to bereceived in the track 80 to allow movement of the carriage therealong.

A length of both rods freely pass through one end of the carriage asdetermined by a pair of lock nuts 218. A collar 220 is keyed to thethreaded rod between its ends thereby to retain a double spring member222-224 between the collar and channel closed end. Thus, the tension orcompression experienced by the springs will determine the positioning ofthe carriage 214 in relation 10 to the axle 198. As may be apparent,movement of the rods to the right in the figures, thereby to put thesprings in a state of compression Will consequently cause the carriageto move to the left so that the member 226 move the axle 198 from theFIG. 20 to FIG. 19 position.

Thus, the chain 82 will be under greater tension if this condition isrequired. Whatever the condition, however, adjustment may be employedand the sprockets will be fioatingly mounted rather than rigidly mountedcausing unnecessary virbration and structural stresses in the conveyor.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the objects and advantagesas heretofore set out and which are now apparent are carried. While thedisclosure is directed to what may be considered as a preferred form ofthe invention, this discussion is for the purpose of illustration and isnot intended to limit the scope of the invention other than as limitedby the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for producing molded elastomeric articles, an endlessseries of article-stripping heads adapted to successively receive one ofa plurality of molded articles an article-carrying molds for strippingthe former from the latter, a corresponding separate endless series offolding heads mounted for movement with re spect to said endless seriesof article-stripping heads to place each folding head in cooperativerelation with a stripping head for an article receiving and foldingoperation, and means for operating said respective series of heads intimed relation to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stripping heads are providedwith a central opening for receiving said one of a plurality ofarticle-carrying molds therethrough, means surrounding said opening andmovable in relation thereto for gripping the open end of the articleafter receipt within the opening and for expanding it away from the moldwhereby relative movement between the article-carrying mold and thestripping head allows that the expanded article be turned upon itself asthe article is stripped from the mold thereby to extend from the centralopening in the stripping head.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the folding head includes a bodysupporting a plurality of folding mem bers, said members being movableinto and out of a central opening in said stripping head and adjacentthe stripped article as said folding head moves in said timed relationwith the stripping head for interacting with said stripped articlebetween the extended portion and the opened end of the article to firstaccomplish a reverse folding of the open end of the article over theremainder of the same and thereafter to grip the article, and means forcausing said relative movement between the stripping head and theassociated folding head.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means for effecting release of thearticle from the stripping head after the article is folded and gripperby the folding members, and means for effecting release of the grip ofthe folding members on the article engaged therewith.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including a frame, a first and secondendless sprocket trained conveyor means mounted by said frame, saidseries of stripping heads mounted, respectively, by said conveyor meansfor said timed driven movement in cooperative relation.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including a third conveyor means for saidarticle-carrying molds, said third conveyor means carried by said frameand movable long a predetermined path that, subsequent tointercooperation between the mold and said stripping head, is divergentin relation to the path of movement of said first conveyor meansproviding relative movement between said article carrying mold and saidstripping head thereby to strip the article from its mold.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stripping head gripping meanssurrounding said central opening is defined by a plurality of stripingarms pivotally carried by said stripping head for movement into saidcentral opening and into operative relation with respect to said articlecarrying molds disposed therein, each of said stripping arms includingan article-engaging spade and a rotary brush adjacent thereto, each ofsaid brushes having a brush mounting shaft, and means connecting saidbrush mounting shafts for simultaneous and reversible rotation, saidarms being interconnected for simultaneous pivoting movement,

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a frame, a first endless sprockettrained conveyor means carried by said frame, said stripping head beingmounted by said first conveyor means and movable therewith, saidinterconnected pivotal arms each mounted by an arm shaft immovablycarrying gear means at one end, and a least one fixed chain supported bysaid frame in position for cooperation with one of said gear means assaid stripping head moves past the latter thereby to pivot the strippingarms in one direction or another and in relation to said stripping headcentral opening for gripping the article open end and expanding it awayfrom the mold.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 including a first channelled track meansimmovably mounted by said frame, and said stripping head supporting aplurality of rollers adapted for movement within said first track meansthereby to determine the path of movement of said first conveyor meansand said stripping head.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including a second channelled track meansimmovably mounted by said frame, and said folding head including armmeans at opposite sides carrying an end roller, said end rollercooperating with said second track means to guide the folding head formovement along an endless path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a plurality of members having asurface profile over which the folding head is adapted to move andextending substantially the length of said second conveyor means, saidmembers being mounted by said frame, and said arm means carrying asecond roller mounted for rolling cooperation with said profiledsurface, said surface profile following a predetermined path in relationto the path of said first conveyor means whereby said folding head movesrelative to the stripping head as the heads are conveyed along theendless path to both fold and remove the folded ar ticle from saidstripping head.

12. A folding head structure for use in an apparatus including astripping mechanism having a stripping head for stripping a moldedarticle from its supporting mold wherein said folding head travelsseparately in timed re lation to the separate movement of said strippinghead thereby to engage, fold and grip the stripped article carried bythe stripping head, said folding head comprising a body means supportinga plurality of folding members on said body in substantialy normalrelation, said members adapted for movement with the body intocooperative relation with said stripping mechanism and said strippedarticle, and means for first moving the members into contact with oneanother to grip the article as said head moves into said cooperativerelationship to engage and fold the article and thereafter to move themembers away from one another to grip the folded article.

13. The structure of claim 12 including a frame, an endless conveyormeans carried by said frame, said folding head being mounted by theconveyor to travel therewith, track means carried by said frame, andmeans carried by said folding head cooperable with said track thereby todetermine partly the positional orientation of the head and move thesame into said cooperative relation as the following head moves alongthe endless path.

14. The structure of claim 13 including a pair of elements carried bysaid frame, said elements having extended length substantially equal tothe upper contoured profile conveyor track and an upper contouredprofile of said elements substantially equal to the upper concal 12toured profile of the conveyor track, said folding head means engageablewith said contoured profile of said elements to additionally determinesaid positional orientation and maintain a substantially verticaldisposition of said folding members.

15. In an apparatus for producing molded elastomeric articles, anendless series of article-stripping heads adapted to successivelyreceive one of a plurality of molded articles and article-carrying moldsfor stripping the former from the latter, a corresponding endless seriesof folding heads mounted for movement to place each folding head incooperative relation with a stripping head for an article receiving andfolding operation, means for operating said respective series of headsin timed relation to each other, the folding head including a bodysupporting a plurality of folding members, said members being movableinto and out of a central opening in said stripping head and adjacentthe stripped article as said folding head moves in said timed relationwith the stripping head for interacting with said stripped articlebetween the extended portion and the opened end of the article to firstaccomplish a reverse folding of the open end of the article over theremainder of the same and thereafter to grip the article, means forcausing said relative movement between the stripping head and theassociate folding head, means for effecting release of the article fromthe stripping head after the article is folded and gripped by thefolding members, means for effecting release of the grip of the foldingmembers on the article engaged therewith, a pinrality of follower meansadapted for movement toward and away from maximum separation, resilientmeans to bias the follower means in the former direction, said followermeans depending from said folding members so that said member moves withsaid followers yet oppositely directed, an element supported by saidframe having a length substantially that of the second conveyor means,said element having a cam profile, said follower means cooperative withsaid profile thereby to cause the folding members sequentially to movetoward one another as the folding members enter said central opening,thereafter to maintain a relatively wider spacing as the article isfolded and, finally, to separate to a maximum under the influence ofsaid resilient means to grip the folded article after release from thestripping head.

16. A folding head structure for use in an apparatus including astripping mechanism having a stripping head for stripping a moldedarticle from its supporting mold wherein said folding head travels intimed relation to said stripping head thereby to engage, fold and gripthe stripped article carried by the stripping head, said folding headcomprising a body means supporting a plurality of folding members onsaid body in substantially normal relation, said members adapted formovement with the body into cooperative relation with said strippingmechanism and said stripped article, means for first moving the membersinto contact with one another to grip the article as said head movesinto said cooperative relation to engage and fold the article andthereafter to move the members away from one another to grip the foldedarticle, a plurality of follower members, said means carried by saidbody, additionally supporting said follower members in dependingrelation, resilient means biasing said follower member in a firstdirection whereby said folding members are spaced at a maximum, andmeans for moving said follower members in a second direction wherebysaid follower members are spaced at a minimum to initially engage thearticle.

17. A folding head structure for use in an apparatus including astripping mechanism having a stripping head for stripping a moldedarticle from its supporting mold wherein said folding head travels intimed relation to said stripping head thereby to engage, fold and gripthe stripped article carried by the stripping head, said folding headcomprising a body means supporting a plurality of folding members onsaid body in substantially normal relation, said members adapted formovement with the body into cooperative relation with said strippingmechanism and said stripped article, means for first moving the membersinto contact with one another to grip the article as said head movesinto said cooperative relation to engage and fold the article andthereafter to move the members away from one another to grip the foldedarticle, a plurality of follower members, said means carried by saidbody, additionally supporting said follower members in dependingrelation, resilient means biasing said follower member in a firstdirection whereby said folding members are spaced at a maximum, andmeans for moving said follower members in a second direction wherebysaid follower members are spaced at a minimum to initially engage thearticle, said means for moving the follower members against said biasmeans being an elongated element having a pair of opposed profilesurfaces, and said follower members formed by a roller being biasedtoward the profile to track the same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner 15 R. L. SPICER, JR., AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

